Tea Party Focus for the Future
There is no denying the enormous impact the Tea Party movement has had on American politics since 2009. No grassroots movement has risen so quickly, so spontaneously, and changed the national political narrative so rapidly. Despite that success, the question of the Tea Party’s long-term impact on American government remains to be determined. The movement is still young, evolving and learning to play presidential politics for the first time.
The successes of 2010 in electing Tea Partiers to Congress and at the local and state levels are only just starting to have a short-term impact since being sworn in last year.
But what should be the Tea Party focus for the future?
The focus of the movement should be to monitor the performance of those elected to determine their fidelity to the tenets of the Tea Party as well as to recruit, encourage and support even more quality candidates to challenge and defeat the progressive liberals and their moderate comrades within either political party. The heady victories of 2010 were not nearly enough to affect the change necessary to save our republic from descending into socialism.
That change will only become reality when sufficient numbers are seated in legislative bodies. Tea Party power will be realized when the Tea Parties are politically feared. No political movement will be respected if it is not feared. The Tea Party is now playing against a system and a formidable enemy that has written the rules of the game to its benefit for more than a century. The enemy and the system will not be defeated overnight.
America needs a revival of its founding values and principles reversing the damage of the Progressive movement. The Tea Party must shrink the bureaucratic state, returning government to its proper role. It must also fundamentally change the process of electoral politics, whether it’s a return to a caucus and convention nomination process or even reaffirming states’ rights by repealing the 17th Amendment and the direct election of Senators.
Real change is about the Tea Party and the American people devolving power from the federal government, and returning it to the states and the people.
Fundamental change has happened before, and it can be done again, and that is the measurement of true success the Tea Party should seek to attain.
***Ed Randazzo, is a nationally syndicated author. He has been a conservative activist and consultant for over 30 years and is currently the Chief News Editor of Life and Liberty Media***
Life & Liberty Media encourages and appreciates your comments that abide by the following guidelines:
1. Avoid profanities or foul language unless it is contained in a necessary quote or is relevant to the comment.
2. Stay on topic.
3. Disagree if you wish, but avoid personal name-calling attacks.
4. Threats are treated seriously and reported to law enforcement.
5. Spam and advertising are not permitted in the comments area.
These guidelines are very general and cannot cover every possible situation. Please don’t assume that Life & Liberty Media management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment. We reserve the right to filter or delete comments or to deny posting privileges entirely at our discretion. Please note that comments are reviewed by the editorial staff and may not be posted immediately. If you feel your comment was filtered inappropriately, please email us at lifelibertygroup@gmail.com.
